Former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju has once again found himself at the center of a storm after suggesting on social media that a woman lawyer should “wink” at judges to secure “favourable orders.” The comment, which was later deleted, triggered widespread condemnation for being sexist and demeaning to the judiciary.
The controversy began when a woman lawyer posted on the social media platform X, asking for advice on how to effectively argue a case in court. In a now-deleted reply, Justice Katju wrote, “All the lady lawyers who winked at me in court got favourable orders.”
His remark quickly went viral, drawing sharp criticism from the legal community and the public. Many users, including advocates, described the comment as “distasteful” and unbecoming of a former Supreme Court justice. One advocate, reacting to the post, wrote, “The tweet is deleted now. All orders passed by him should be revisited.”
Although Justice Katju removed the comment following the backlash, screenshots continued to circulate widely online.
This is not the first time the former judge, who retired from the Supreme Court in 2011, has been embroiled in controversy for his public statements. In 2015, he faced criticism for commenting that the BJP should have fielded Shazia Ilmi over Kiran Bedi in the Delhi elections because Ilmi was “much more beautiful.” In 2020, following the Hathras gang-rape case, he controversially stated that rape was a “natural urge in men,” which could be curbed by creating more employment opportunities.
Justice Katju has previously served as the Chief Justice of the Madras and Delhi High Courts before his elevation to the Supreme Court in 2006. After his retirement in 2011, he chaired the Press Council of India until 2014. He frequently uses his social media presence to share his opinions on politics, philosophy, and current events.
